By: Sonia Yasmin

Here, Biplob Kishore Deb has written about some of the top names in World Tennis until now. Today, I am going to present you with some of the greatest names of European Tennis of all time. I have included 5 males and 5 females. Well, this is my own list and if you do not agree with it then please leave a comment. To be frank, I don’t agree with my own list either. I wish that I could include one Spanish player. Then, I do not know whom to leave from this list either.

Bjorn Borg

Bjorn Borg's success in tennis made him a legend in the sports world. Still no other tennis player has won the Wimbledon singles title five consecutive years and French Open a record six times like him. He devoted all his time to tennis at the age of 14 and grabbed 11 Grand Slams. This Swedish player also has a record of winning the Wimbledon and French Open for three consecutive years. Many people consider him as the greatest player of the sports history. His fame did not go into his head. He was very cool in the court and some of his opponents called him an ice man. Unfortunately despite reaching the U.S. for 4 times he never won this title. His duels with John McEnroe are unforgettable and entertained many tennis lovers.

Image Link: Wikipedia

Roger Federer

Roger Federer's ranking is now number 1 in men's singles. He is one of the most successful players of all time. He won nine Grand Slam men's single titles. . He is the only player who won both the Wimbledon and U.S. Open single titles in three consecutive years. When he was only eight he started playing tennis. 2004 was the best year for him as he won three out of four Grand Slam single titles. He sets many records and also broke some. This Swiss player is full of stamina and employs an all court playing style which tires his opponents. UNICEF appointed him a Good will Ambassador to help the poor children of the world. Whenever he gets time and opportunity he involves himself in humanitarian service. Many predict that he will be the greatest player in tennis history.

Image Link: Wikipedia

Frederick Perry

Frederick Perry was the world champion in table tennis. At the age of 18 he started playing tennis. Despite that he could become a successful tennis player. Perry was the first player who won all four Grand Slam singles titles. He had great speed. To the British he is still considered as a role model as he is the last British player to win the Wimbledon men's singles title. Perry won 8 Grand Slam singles titles including the Wimbledon men's singles titles for three consecutive years. Some people consider him as one of the greatest male players.

Image Link: Wikipedia

Mats Wilander

His career may be short but he was at the peak. Here is another Swedish player who shines in the tennis realm with 7 Grand Slam Championships. 1988 was the best year in his career as he won the 3 out of 4 Grand Slam men's singles titles. Before Boris Becker and Michael Chang Wilander was the youngest male player to win a Grand Slam single title. Wilander got many awards but he failed to win the Wimbledon men's single title though could capture doubles title. His participation and contribution in the Davis Cup for his country are really exemplary.

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Boris Becker

Boris Becker is the youngest ever winner of the men's singles title at Wimbledon at the age of 17. He is the first German to win the Wimbledon. His huge serve helped him to get six Grand Slam singles titles, one Olympic medal and many other awards. Once he said that playing matters more to him than winning or losing. He loves to play. In 1996 at the age of 29 he won Australian Open men's singles title. Though he no longer present in the professional tennis he gets a large coverage from the media for his colorful personal life and media work. Boris Becker and Steffi Graf's performance and contribution not only made them legend in Germany but also popular in the rest of the world.

Image Link: BBC

Steffi Graf

Steffi Graf is one of the greatest tennis players of all times. Her achievement is remarkable .She won 22 Grand Slam singles titles. In 1988 she became the only player to achieve the Golden Slam. Graf hold the number one position longer than any male or female tennis player. From a very early age she started playing tennis with her father's help and her father was the guide for a long time. Steffi feels comfortable playing in any kind of court. This is really a rare quality. She got recognition and awards. The Germans take her as a role model. It is really doubtful whether there will be any match to her i the tennis world.

Image Link: BBC

Suzanne Lenglen

This French legend was one of the dominant figures in the very first of the last century. Despite Lenglen’s health hazard at her early life, she could set her feet in tennis successfully. She first took tennis racquet at the age of 11 and just after 4 years she won her first Grams Slam singles tournaments at the World Hard Court Championship. Later on, her second Grand Slam (first on Grass) victory in 1920 came in the way of defeating the seven time winner of Wimbledon Dorothea Douglass Chambers in the final which is dubbed as one of the trademark game in the history of tennis. Then she came into the focus and that was the start of her domination in the world tennis. She could win 12 Grand Slam singles before going into retirement. She was equally successful in the Women’s doubles and mixed doubles. Her number of mixed doubles title is 8 and doubles titles is 73 while her she won 81 singles titles in her career. Including singles, doubles and mixed doubles, she could win 28 Grand Slam tournaments. She later became a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She is the first female tennis celebrity to be named the La Divine (the divine one) by the French Press.

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Dorothea Douglass

Dorothea is one of those tennis players who dominated the tennis courts over the world in her time. Debuted in 1900, this tennis legend could win seven Grand Slam titles in her career. She is famous for her historic match against Suzanne Lenglen which was the then record for longest match. She won Olympic gold in 1908 London Olympic games. She was named an inductee in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

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Virginia Wade

This great English tennis star was born at, Bournemouth, Hampshire. She became professional in 1968 and in the same year she could win her first Grand Slam tournament in 1968 in the first US Open in the history of Open era. In the final she could defeat Billie Jean King directly in two sets. This master tennis player played tennis for 26 years and she is the highest appeared tennis player in the Wimbledon history with her 24 participation in the tournament. Besides, she could also win 5 doubles Grand Slam tournaments. In her successful career, she won 55 singles title and her career prize money is US$1,542,278. For her significant contribution in tennis throughout her 26- year long career, she is now a member of International Tennis Hall of Fame.